Light-tractor gang-plow.



I. A. WEAVER.

LIGHT TRACTOR GANG PLOW.-

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1915.

1,238,969. Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

6 SHEETSSHEET I.

I. A.-WEAVER. LIGHT TRACTOR GANG PLOW. APPLICATION FILED mm. 22. I915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I. A. WEAVER.

LIGHT TRACTOR GANG PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. I915.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I. A. WEAVER.

LIGHT TRACTOR GANG PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. I915.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I. A. WEAVER.

LIGHT TRACTOR GANG PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1915.

1,238,969. Patented Sept. 4,1917;

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

ira/fi Meade/r I. A. WEAVER.

LIGHT TRACTOR GANG PLOW.

APPLIBAHON FILED MAR.22. I915.

PatentedSept. 4., 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET G UNITED STA.

bier-Ion j DA A. WEAVER, or srnziremntn, 'InLmoIs, ASSIGNOB', BY mnsnnjhssmnmun'rs,

'10 MONTGOMERY wan]: & co. mconroaarnn, or CHICAGO, InLmoxs, a

T1012 0]? NEW YORK.

LIGHT-TRACTOR GANG-PLOW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Sept. 4, 191 '7.

Application filed March 22, 1915. Serial No. 18,045.

To all ioham it may concern: 'Be it known that I, IRA A. WEAVER acit zen of the United States, residing at prmgfie1d,,in' the county of Sangamon and State light traction engines so designed that theoperator of the engine may have full control of the plow from his seat. The larger engines and plows in common use are both provided with platforms and two men are employed to handle the outfit, one to run the engine and the'othe r to manage the plows. The modern small tractor is providedlwith a single seat for the operator and it is extremel diflicult for him to remain in his seat an operate the control levers on the plow which are in the rear for the reason that the levers are uite beyond his reach. To overcome this di culty I have provided a screw mechanism with a crank arranged in easy reach of the operator of the englne so that the depth may be easily .regmlated,

and have also provided means whereby the plows can be leveled by the same crank mechanism.

Another feature of the invention is the automatic lift controlled by the operator throu h a cord such as a rope, chain, or rod where y the plows may be raised automatically at the end of the furrow and al soso arranged that a slight pull on the cord will cause the plow to out less deeply in order to relieve the engine in passing through soft marshy s otsin the field.

e A furt or feature of the invention consists in the provision of means whereby one of the lows may be disengaged entirely for the time being or permanently to relieve the load of the engine when the tractlon surface is poor or when the load is too great to pull all the plows composing the gang. 1

A further improvement consists 1n the manner of connecting and bracing the plow units so that all the parts are perfectlyinterchangeable and a more rigid construction is secured.

Other improved features relatin to fie xiferred embodiment of the same is set forth in the accompanyin drawings and detailed description based t ereon. Obviously the construction may be modified-to embrace equivalent mechanical features for obtaining these-me results in varying degrees wherefore it will be understood that the drawing and descri(ption are to be taken in an illustratlve an not in an unnecessarily limiting sense. In the drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a plow embodyin the invention;

Fig. 2 is a ,si e elevation of the same with the last plow indicated in dotted lines in elevated position;

gang

Fig-dis an enlarged detail view of the v screw mechanism for controlling the plows;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through a portion of Fig. 3. ona yet lar or scale.

Figs. 5 and 6 arerespective y sectional de tails on the lines 55 and 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a top plan View of the clutch mechanism for. elevating the plows;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the clutch mechanism;

' Fi 9 is a vertical section throu h the clutc mechanism on the line 9-9 of Fl 8';

Figs. 10 and 11 arefra mentary views showmg the tripping mec anism of the clutch;

Fig. 12 is an elevational connection; and

Fi 13 is a transverse section on the line 13- 3 of Fig. 12.

7 Referring to the ,drawings it will be observed that the beams 21 and 22 of the two forward plow units 23 and24 are securely united by means of the cross member 25 while the beam 26 of the rear plow unit 27 is attached tothe others by means of a crank levermechanism indicated generally" at 28. While I have "illustratedtwo permanently connected unit it is o vious that there might be three or more other wit another unit attached with a lever mechanism. It is not considered good practice, however, to make a 'gan of more than four plows rigidly secure to each rough or uneven ground.

The plow is carried by two wheels 29 and 30, the former runnin in the furrow and the latter on the lan These wheels are mounted on the axles 31 and 32 which have crank portions journaled in the beams 21 view of a bracing low units and one detachable,

ward support for the adjusting screw spindle 43.

The rear end of the screw spindle 43 is connected to the cranked portions 44- and 45 of the axles 31 and 32 by means of rocker .spind e and the friction bl'ock53, will rearms 46 and 47 respectively. The rocker arm 46 is connected by means of links 8 with the nut 49 engagin the threaded portion'of thev spindle 43, w ile the rocker arm 47 is pivoted at 50 to a yoke 51 within which is mounted a friction controlled nut 52 which includes a threaded block 53 pressed into engagement with the threads of the .screw spindle 43.by means of springs 54, 54.

Ball bearings 5555 provide for the antifrictio'n'mounting of the nut within the yoke The nut ,is optionally held against rotation by means 0 a detent arm 56 lprojecting from a collar 57 secured to-t e rock shaft 58, the forward end of which terminates in a handle 59 located ad'aoent the hand crank 60 of the screw spindle 43, both within convenient reach of the operator seated, on the engine. This rock-shaft 58 is frictionall held in adjusted angular position with t e detent arm in or out of en- 'gagement with the recesses 61 of the nut 52 by means of 'a leaf spring 62 mounted on the yoke 51 and resting u on the collar 57.

From the above it will e apparent that if the spindle 43 is rotated'by m'eans of the hand crank 60 and the nut 52 is revented from rotatin by the detent 56 bot nuts 49 and 52 woufd travel uniformly upon the screw spindle 43 and would thereby crank the axles 31 and32' to an equal extent, thereby changing the depth'of the low units 23 and 24 or raising them to t eir extreme height when desired. j

. The, plow units 23 and 24 may be leveled upor the' furrow wheel 29 may beelevated in relation to the land wheel 30 to open up .ainew land by disengaging the detent 56 from the nut 52 by means of the rock shaft 58. If the screw spindle 43 is now rotated means of. the hand crank 60 the nut'49 will travel upon thespindle while the nut 52 b reason of the friction between the volve with the spindle and will not travel thereon. 'Thus no cranking motion will be transmitted to the land axle 32.

It will be observed that the rock haft 58 is graduated at 63, the adations o which read relative to the gui e 64 so that 230 erator may set the plow unitsto cu proper depth before they enter the soil.

Stops are likewise provided at 65 and 66 to define the limits of movement of the nut 52 upon the screw spindle 43 so as to prevent over-adjustment of the plow units. justable stops 67 on. the screw spindle 43 are likewise provided which coact with the guidthe axles.

The power lift consists of a cone friction clutch mechanism mounted on the land axle 32 and is shown in detail in Figs. 7 to 11 inclusive. The inner clutch member 68 is carried by the sleeve 69 of the axle 32 while the outer clutch member 70 is mounted to rotate'freelliy on the said sleeve 69 as shown clearly in ig. 9. The clutch member 70 has a hub 71 on which the chain 72 ma wind, one end of the chain being secure to the clutch member 70 at 73 and the other end secured to an arm 74 extending outwardly and downwardly from the plow .frame and rigidly secured thereto. The connection between the chain 72 and the arm 74 is b means of a hook member 75 provided wit a series of holes 76 for engagement by the cBnnecting bolt 77 whereby to secure adjustabilit The two clutch members68 and 7 0 are he (1 yieldingly out of en agement by means of the spring 78 and are rought into engagement by means of a lever 79 to which a cord such as a chain, rod or rope 80 is secured and extends within easy reach of the operator. The lever 79 is provided with two cam faces .8181 arranged to co-act withthegyolleis. 82, 82 mounted in the bracket 83 secured to the axle 32. A projection 84 from the bracket 83 carries a spring pressed pawl 85 which is adapted to eng e within a notch 86 on the clutch member 0 when the plow is to be elevated. A member 87 has a slotted connection at 88 with the lower end of the lever 79 and also a slotted connection with the lower end'of the arm 74,'thus forming an adjustable stop to limit the cranking movement ofvthe axle 32. A toothed. wheel 89 havin alternate shallow notches-90 and does notc es 91 is pivoted at 92 on the inner si 70 with its teeth projecting through a slot adjacent the notch 86. The pawl 93 prevents backward movement of the toothed wheel 89 and holdsthe same in position under the action of the spring 94.

The 0 eration of the power lift is .as folmg brace 39 to prevent over-adjustment of e ofthe clutch member rollers 82 thus crowding the two clutch members68 and 70 together against the influence of the spring 7 8' and the friction engagement between the clutch members causes the member .70 to rotate'with the land wheel thereby causing the chain 72 to wind upon thedrum- 71 and cranking the axle=32 until the movement is checked by the slotted member 87 acting against/the pull of the cord on the lever 79. At this point the notch 86 and the toothed wheel 89 have been carried a few degrees in advance of pull upon of the rod relative to the the pawl 85. When the cord is released the weight of the plow starts a reverse motion which is finally stopped by, the engagement of the pawl 85 in the notch 86 as shown in Fig. 11. During this movement the pawl has engaged one of the deep notches 91 of the toothed wheel 89 and moved it to the position shown in said Fig. 11. To lower the plow the clutch is again thrown in operation by a the cord 80 and the forward movement of the clutch member 70 carries the toothed wheel 89 a few degrees in advance of the pawl 85, and whenthe cord is again released and the clutch member 70 begins its reverse movement the pawl 85 engages within a shallow notch 90 which holds the point of the pawl at sufiicient elevation to cause the same to clear the notch 86 and to ride up the inclined face 95 on to the.peripheral surface of the clutch member 70. This permits the reverse movement of the clutch member 70 and drum 71 allowing the descent of the plows into the soil. By applying light tension to the lifting cord 80 the plow can be lifted part way so as to temporarily relieve the load upon the engine if the drive wheels of the latter be gin to slip or to sink in marshy soil.

The movement of the cranked portion 45 of the axle 32 under the action of the clutch mechanism is transmitted to the cranked portion 4A of the axle 31 through the rocker arms 47 and 46 and their connection with the screw spindle-43. It will be apparent that the screw spindle 4:3 will slide through its bearing on the upper end of the brace 39. It is also apparent that the rocker arm 47 is shorter than the rocker. arm 46. This makes the plow self-leveling when raising it to its extreme height which is made necessary by the fact that one wheel is working in the furrow and the other on the uncultivated land. The arm 4:7 extends also below the cranked portion 45 of the axle 32 as clearly shown in Fig.- 3. And to this lower projection 96 a rod 97 is adjustably connected by means of the holes 98. This rod 97 extends loosely through a hole in the upright bar 39 and also through a hole in the brace 99 on the draw bar 38. The forward end of the rod 97 is provided with a spool 100, the end flanges 101--101 of which limit the forward and backward movement brace 99. This spool 100 has a threaded engagement with r the forward end of the rod 97 whereby the spool may be adjusted relative to said rod.

It will be noted that the depth at which the plows run is controlled by the two carrying wheels 29 and 30. The draw bars 37 and 38 are connected to the plow so as to provide for free vertical movement thus per mitting the engine to pass over rough and uneven ground without affecting the operation of the plows. This obtains so long as the unevenness of the ground will not cause a relative movementbetween the draw bars and hitch bars suflicient to take up the play allowed by the spool 100 worln'gg through the bracket 99. When the plow 18 elevated this rod 97 is drawn backward by the rocker arm projection 96 and, as the forward en of the draw bar 38 is prevented from lifting by being connected with the engine, it is evident that the rear plows will be held in elevated position by means of the rod 97 which forms a truss over the hitch bar 36 and draw bar 38.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawingit will be observed that the two beams 21 and 22 and the plow units 23 and 24 are rigidly secured together and the third beam 26 and plow unit 27 are connected to the forward plows by the bracket 102 which forms a journal for the crank lever 28 which extends beneath the beam 26 and is journaled in a box 103 secured on the under side thereof. The operating handle 104 is riveted at 105 to the extension 106 ofthe crank lever 28 and is provided with the usual hand grip 107 and spring plunger 108 to engage the sector 109. The forward end of the beam 26 is connected to the arm 74.

It will be apparent from the above that the plow unit 27 is attached to and normally operated in unison with the plow units 23 and 2e through the power lift mechanism and the screw spindle adjustment by reason of its connection with the beam 22. It will also be observed that by means of the lifting lever 104. it can be elevated to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 so as to be thrown out of commission for the time being where the traction conditions or soil conditions are such as to call for the use of but two plows in the gang. The method of connection between the plow beam 26 and of the ready disengagement of the plow beam 26, the plow unit 27 and their appurtenant parts so as to make a gang of but two plows where desired.

By reference to Figs. 12 and 13 the method of bracing and connecting the various portions of the plow frame will be made clear. Heretofore it has been the usual practice to secure two plow beams together by forging the brace into the groove of the beams and this necessarily makes the parts non-interchangeable. If a snug fit is required, owing to the peculiar section of the plow beam billet, it has been found very difiicult to form bracing members in such a way that they would perfectly interchange with different beams on account of one side of the flange of the beam being thicker than the other due to the bending operation. This difiiculty has been overcome according to the present ed draft connection to the plow frame, a

invention by first drilling the bolt hole 110. cranked lever suitably fulcrumed on the ad- 65 A tool is then centered by this hole and mills jacent unit of the gang with its cranked an annular groove 111 about the hole. Oneportion journaled in the beam, of the aux l- 5 half of the diameter of this rim is milled in iary unit, a toothed sector, and a lever othe beam member 112 and the other half is crating handle arranged to engage the formed as a similar groove 113 in the brace tor whereby to raise and sustamthe an x 114. If the beam is slightly twisted it is ia unit in an elevated position indepen evident that the groove will be a little deeper ent y of the other units, the several units be on one side than the other to compensate for ing relatively rigid in use. such twisting. A ring 115 is then laid in 5. In a gang plow, the oombination with the space between the two opposed faces of the plow frame, a plurality of plow units, 75

I the grooves 111 and 113 and the braces 114 and means for controlling the same in unison are clamped upon the ring and beam by while in operation, of an auxiliary plow umt means of the connecting bolts 116. This arranged as the last of the gang on the land method of connecting the braces and beams side, the beam of said unit avmg a detach takes most of the strain from the bolt and ably pivoted draft connection to the low 80 insures a close fit and prevents a shifting frame to the rear of the axle, a cranks le of the parts. p

I claim: unit of the gen with its cranked portion 1. In a g plow, the combination with journaled in the am of the auxiliary unit, a luralit d i plow units, of an auxiliary a toothed sector, and a lever operating han- 85 e ective p ow unit arranged as the last of the dle arranged to engage the sector whereby to gang on the land side, means for controlling raise and A sustain the auxiliary unit in an the severalunits in unison and while in opelevated position independently of the other oration, and means to raise and lower said units, the several units being relatively rigid auxiliary plow unit independently of the in use; other units whereb to vary the number pf 6. In a tractor plow, the combination with operative plows in t egang, the several units carrying wheels, a cranked axle, and plow so being relatively rigid in use' units mounted on the cranked'axle for rais- In a gangplow, the combination with a ing and lowerin of a hitch com a plurality of low units, of an auxiliary low draft bar attachex i to the tractor and pivoted 95 unit detacha ly mounted as the last 0 the to the plow to provide vertical flexibility gang on the land side, means for controlhng and a tie rod connected at its forward and the several units in unison and while in opto the draft bar to provide limited lost moeration, and means to ra se and lowensaid tion and at its rear end to the cranked axle auxiliary plow unit in umson with and mdewhereby to throw the weight of the plows on 100 pendentl of the other units wherebyto vary the draft bar to secure rigidity when the the hum r of operative plows in the ang, plow units are elevated.

40 the several units being relatively rigid in 7. In atractor'plow, the combination with use. carrying wheels, a cranked axle, and plow 3. In a ang plow the combination with units mounted on the cranked axle for rais- 105 the plow me, a plurality of plow units, ing and lowering, of a hitch compri a and means for controllingthe same in umdraft bar attached to the tractor and ivson while in operation, of an auxiliary plow oted to the plow to provide vertical iunit. arranged as the last of the gang on the bility, a tie rod, a spool adjustably mounted land side, the beam of sa d un t having a on the forward end of said rod, the shank 1 0 draft connection to the'f. plow frame, a of the the spool slidable within an aperture cranked lever suitably fulcrumed .with its of the draft bar with its flanges on opposite cranked portion ournaled in the beam of sides thereof to provide limited lost motion,

the auxihary unit, a sector carried by the said rod at its rear end connected to the a auxiliary unit, and a lever operating handle cranked portion of the axle whereb to 11 arranged to en age the sector whereby to throw the weight of the plows on the theft sustain the auxi ary imit in an elevated and bar to secure rigidity when the plow units lowered position independently of the other are elevated.

unit, the several units being relatively rigid In testimony whereof I have hereunto in use. t signed my name in the presence of two sub- 2.0

4. In a gang plow, the comb1nation scribing witnesses. the plow frame, a plurality of plow umts, IR A. WEAVER and means for controlling the same in unison whilein operation, of an auxiliary plow unit Witnesses: arrau ed as the last of the gang on the land R. C. Bnmvm'r,

side, 51c beam of said unit having a pivot- R. W. 'BoEHMm'n. 

